Knockdown picture frame

ABSTRACT

A knockdown picture frame having two perpendicularly arranged pair of opposed frame members, each member having spaced end portions provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member. The frame members are connected together by a longitudinally extending, flexible member passing through the holes and having spaced ends fastened together by a loop formed in one end and a disc provided with a pair of holes. The other of the ends of the flexible member is passed through the holes in the disc, the loop in the one end of the flexible member, and between itself and the disc.

United States Patent Volden 451 May28, 1974 KNOCKDOWN PICTURE FRAME [76] Inventor: Eugene A. Volden, RR. 2, Henning,

Minn. 56551 [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 226,148

[52] US. Cl. 40/155, 40/153 [51] Int. Cl. G09f1/12 [58] Field of Search 40/10, 152, 155, 152.1, 40/153 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 412,683 10/1889 Throop 40/155 656,342 8/1900 Carlton.... 40/155 777,079 12/1904 Cottle 40/155 862,786 8/1907 Ashcraft 287/2092 D 1,824,900 9/1931 Kaufman .1 287/2092 D 2,209,972 8/1940 Horwitt ,.40/l52.l

2,540,907 2/1951 Paschal 40/153 2,824,398 2/1958 Storm 40/155 2,954,630 10/1960 Hull 40/152.l

3,514,886 6/1970 Drakard 40/155 3,552,050 1/1971 Marateck 40/155 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9/1924 France 40/155 Primary ExaminerWm. H. Grieb Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A knockdown picture frame having two perpendicularly arranged pair of opposed frame members, each member having spaced end portions provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member. The frame members are connected together by a longitudinally extending, flexible member passing through the holes and having spaced ends fastened together by a loop formed in one end and a disc provided with a pair of holes. The other of the ends of the flexible member is passed through the holes in the disc, the loop in the one end of the flexible member, and between itself and the disc.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures vATENTEDm 28 \914 SkiiET 10F 2' Fig. /6 24 28 /2 PHENTEUM 28 19m SHEU 2 (IF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a picture frame, and specifically to a picture frame that can be knocked-down and re-assembled without the need for tools and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known to market the frame members of a picture frame as separate items. These frame members must be fastened together to form the frame. A conventional manner of doing this is to use nails, screws, and the like. The techniques, however, have the disadvantage that it is difficult to knock-down or disassemble the frame to change pictures, etc.

US. Pat. No. 777,079, for example, discloses an easily knocked-down frame in which the frame members are connected together by means of a cord. However, the frame members must be specially designed for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a knock-down picture frame in which the frame members may be of a conventional configuration, and which is simple to use and reliable in operation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide means for connecting together the frame members of a picture frame and which itself has a novel fastening means.

These and other objects are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a knockdown picture frame having two perpendicularly arranged pair of opposed frame members. Each frame member has spaced end portions provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member. A means is passed through the holes for connecting the frame members together.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the connecting means has a longitudinally extending, flexible member with spaced ends. A means which includes a loop formed in one of the ends of the flexible member and a disc is provided for selectively fastening the ends. The other of the ends of the flexible member is passed through the holes in the disc, the loop. and between itself and the disc to achieve the fastening.

A groove means is advantageously provided in each of the end portions in a rear outer wall surface arranged adjacent the outer wall surface in which the hole opens for guiding the flexible member from the opening provided in the outer wall surface to an inner wall surface adjacent the rear outer wall surface. This is for tightening the flexible member.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

LII

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing a knockdown picture frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail view, partly cut away and drawn to a larger scale than FIG. 1, showing a connection of abutting frame members.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view showing a connection of abutting frame members.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a fastening means according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one manner of hanging the knockdown picture frame according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a knockdown picture frame 10 according to the present invention has two perpendicularly arranged pair of opposed frame members 12, 14 forming an enclosing border. Each frame member l2, 14 has spaced end portions l6, 18, respectively, provided with a hole 20, 22, respectively, (FIG. 2) passing therethrough from an opening 24, 26, respectively, provided in an outer wall surface 28, 30, respectively, to a respective opening 32, 34 provided in an end wall surface 36, 38, respectively. Holes 20, 22 are arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion I6, 18 of an abutting frame member 12, 14. A connecting device 40 connects the frame members l2, 14 to a frame member 14, 12 in a manner to be explained below.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, connecting device 40 has a longitudinally extending, flexible member 42 with spaced ends 44, 46. Member 42 may be, for example, a length of suitable, known cord. Ends 44, 46 are selectively fastened together by an arrangement shown in detail in FIG. 4, and including a loop 48 formed in end 44 and a disc or button 50 provided with a pair of holes 52. End 46 is passed through holes 52, loop 48, and between itself and disc 50. This arrangement will provide a tension on end 46 and connect it to end 44. As soon as flexible member-42 is brought tight, ends 44, 46.will be fastened together.

Referring once again to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, grooves 54, 56 may be provided in end portions l6, 18, respectively, of frame members l2, 14, respectively. Grooves 54, 56 are arranged in rear outer wall surfaces 58, 60, respectively. Rear outer wall surfaces 58, 60 are arranged adjacent a respective outer 'wall surface 28,

30. Grooves 54, 56 serve for guiding flexible member 42 from openings 24, 26, respectively to an associated inner wall surface 62, 64 arranged adjacent rear outer wall surface 58, 60. This is for tightening the flexible member 42. This arrangement permits flexible member 42 to be passed through holes 20, 22 and the ends 44,

' 46 thereof fastened together while flexible member 42 is still loosely tensioned. Flexible member 42 is in the form of a line having limited resiliency but being capable of being disposed in the inclined grooves 54, 56 after the ends of the line have been secured together with the line disposed tautly along the outer wall surfaces 58, 60 of the frame members 12, 14, thereby further tensioning the line and enabling the line to be used to support the frame from a support member.

. tion may be advantageously marketed with four separate frame members l2, l4, flexible member 42, and

disc 50. The purchaser may easily assemble frame I and mount a picture 70 therein by putting the picture in the grooves 66, 68, passing flexible member 42 through holes 20, 22, and fastening the ends 44, 46 of flexible member 42 in the manner described above.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A knockdown picture frame, comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of frame members, each frame member having spaced end portions disposed in abutting engagement, each end portion provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a simi lar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member; and

b. means passing through the holes for connecting the frame members together, and including a longitudinally extending, flexible member with spaced ends, and means for selectively fastening together said ends, the fastening means including a loop formed in one of said ends and a disc provided with a pair of holes, the other of said ends passing through the holes in said disc, said loop, and between itself and said disc.

2. A structure as defined in'claim 1, wherein each of said end portions is provided with groove means in a rear outer wall surface arranged adjacent said outer wall surface for guiding said flexible member from the opening provided in said outer wall surface to an inner wall surface'adjacent said rear outer wall surface for tightening said flexible member.

3. A knockdown picture frame, comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of frame members, each frame member having spaced end portions disposed in abutting engagement, each end portion provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member; and

b. means passing through the holes for connecting the frame members together, and including a longitudinally extending, flexible member with spaced ends, and means for selectively fastening together said ends, each of said end portions being provided with groove means in a rear outer wall surface arranged adjacent said outer wall surface for guiding said flexible member from the opening provided in said outer wall surface to an inner wall surface adjacent said rear outer wall surface for tightening said flexible member.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said .frame members are arranged in perpendicular relation with the end wall surfaces being inclined to form a mitered joint at the corners-of the frame.

5. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said frame members includes a longitudinal groove in the inner side edgethereof to form a continuous inwardly opening groove when the frame members are assembled for receiving the peripheral edge of a panel.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5 wherein each end portion of each frame member includes an inclined groove forming the groove means and extending from the opening provided in the outer wall surface to the inner side edge thereof with the bottom of the inclined groove being adjacentto but spaced slightly from the side wall of the lontitudinal groove.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said flex- 

1. A knockdown picture frame, comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of frame members, each frame member having spaced end portions disposed in abutting engagement, each end portion provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member; and b. means passing through the holes for connecting the frame members together, and including a longitudinally extending, flexible member with spaced ends, and means for selectively fastening together said ends, the fastening means including a loop formed in one of said ends and a disc provided with a pair of holes, the other of said ends passing through the holes in said disc, said loop, and between itself and said disc.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said end portions is provided with groove means in a rear outer wall surface arranged adjacent said outer wall surface for guiding said flexible member from the opening provided in said outer wall surface to an inner wall surface adjacent said rear outer wall surface for tightening said flexible member.
 3. A knockdown picture frame, comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of frame members, each frame member having spaced end portions disposed in abutting engagement, each end portion provided with a hole passing therethrough from an opening provided in an outer wall surface to an opening provided in an end wall surface and arranged to mate with a similar hole in the end portion of an abutting frame member; and b. means passing through the holes for connecting the frame members together, and including a longitudinally extending, flexible member with spaced ends, and means for selectively fastening together said ends, each of said end portions being provided with groove means in a rear outer wall surface arranged adjacent said outer wall surface for guiding said flexible member from the opening provided in said outer wall surface to an inner wall surface adjacent said rear outer wall surface for tightening said flexible member.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame members are arranged in perpendicular relation with the end wall surfaces being inclined to form a mitered joint at the corners of the frame.
 5. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said frame members includes a longitudinal groove in the inner side edge thereof to form a continuous inwardly opening groove when the frame members are assembled for receiving the peripheral edge of a panel.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 5 wherein each end portion of each frame member includes an inclined groove forming the groove means and extending from the opening provided in the outer wall surface to the inner side edge thereof with the bottom of the inclined groove being adjacent to but spaced Slightly from the side wall of the lontitudinal groove.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said flexible member is in the form of a line having limited resiliency but being capable of being disposed in the inclined grooves after the ends of the line have been secured together with the line disposed tautly along the outer wall surfaces of the frame members thereby further tensioning the line and enabling the line to be used to support the frame from a support member. 